The mission of the Indianapolis Veterans Court (IVC) is to promote public safety by assisting veterans with addiction, mental illness, and injuries to receive treatment and to help them improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.

The IVC provides a specialized court docket focusing on veterans’ and active duty military members’ unique needs stemming from involvement in the criminal justice system. The IVC is a collaborative effort between the court and its staff, veterans’ organizations, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), community treatment agencies, and IVC participants. The IVC creates a therapeutic environment where structured treatment, close court supervision, and supportive interventions are aimed to address the impairments that can lead to criminal activity. Veterans will participate in a 4 phase program designed for recovery.

How Do I Apply?

Contact Hal Johnston, the Court Coordinator for the Indianapolis Veterans Court.The IVC Court Coordinator will help identify and assess a veteran’s qualifications to participate in the Indianapolis Veterans Court.If you have any questions, please contact:

Contact Gordon Smith, the Indianapolis Veterans Court Mentor Coordinator. If you are a military veteran, we are looking for volunteers to serve in the Indianapolis Veteran Court as a Mentor for each participant.A veteran mentor is a resource for our veteran participants, not a counselor but a coach, guide, role model, advocate, and supporter for the individual with whom he or she is working.The IVC supports veterans through adjustment to civilian life, assists veterans in navigating treatment and the VA systems, and provides mentorship and accountability to veterans in the criminal justice system.

If you know someone who would like to support a veteran as a Mentor, please complete the application and return it to gordon.smith@indy.gov with a copy of his or her last DD-214/NGB-22. Gordon is available to answer questions about the IVC program. It is the IVC team’s goal to help our brothers and sisters-in-arms, leaving no veteran behind.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2014-DC-BX-0062 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. The IVC will never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability.